Wal-mart Economics Essays - Walmart, Sam Walton, Cross-docking

Wal-mart Economics Wal-mart Economics Sam Walton, a leader with an innovative vision, started his own company and made it into the leader in discount retailing that it is today. Through his savvy, and sometimes unusual, business practices, he and his associates led the company forward for thirty years. Today, four years after his death, the company is still growing steadily. Wal-Mart executives continue to rely on many of the traditional goals and philosophies that Sam's legacy left behind, while simultaneously keeping one step ahead of the ever-changing technology and methods of today's fast-paced business environment. The organization has faced, and is still facing, a significant amount of controversy over several different issues; however, none of these have done much more than scrape the exterior of this gigantic operation. The future also looks bright for Wal-Mart, especially if it is able to strike a comfortable balance between increasing its profits and recognizing its social and ethical responsibilities. Why is Wal-Mart so Successful? Is it Good Strategy or Good Strategy Implementation? -- In 1962, when Sam Walton opened the first Wal-Mart store in Rogers, Arkansas, no one could have ever predicted the enormous success this small-town merchant would have. Sam Walton's talent for discounts retailing not only made Wal-Mart the world's largest retailer, but also the world's number one retailer in sales. Indeed, Wal-Mart was named "Retailer of the Decade" by Discount Store News in 1989, and on several occasions has been included in Fortune's list of the "10 most admired corporations." Even with Walton's death (after a two-year battle with bone cancer) in 1992, Wal-Mart's sales continue to grow significantly. Wal-Mart is successful not only because it makes sound strategic management decisions, but also for its innovative implementation of those strategic decisions. Regarded by many as the entrepreneur of the century, Walton had a reputation for caring about his customers, his employees (or "associates" as he referred to them), and the community. In order to maintain its market position in the discount retail business, Wal-Mart executives continue to adhere to the management guidelines Sam developed. Walton was a man of simple tastes and took a keen interest in people. He believed in three guiding principles: 1. Customer value and service; 2. Partnership with its associates; 3. Community involvement (The Story of Wal-Mart, 1995). The word "always" can be seen in virtually all of Wal-Mart's literature. One of Walton's deepest beliefs was that the customer is always right, and his stores are still driven by this philosophy. When questioned about Wal-Mart's secrets of success, Walton has been quoted as saying, "It has to do with our desire to exceed our customers' expectations every hour of every day" (Wal-Mart Annual Report, 1994, p. 5). Walton's greatest accomplishment was his ability to empower, enrich, and train his employees (Longo, 1994). He believed in listening to employees and challenging them to come up with ideas and suggestions to make the company better. At each of the Wal-Mart stores, signs are displayed which read; "Our People Make the Difference." Associates regularly make suggestions for cutting costs through their "Yes We Can Sam" program. The sum of the savings generated by the associates actually paid for the construction of a new store in Texas (The story of Wal-Mart, 1995). One of Wal-Mart's goals was to provide its employees with the appropriate tools to do their jobs efficiently. The technology was not used as a means of replacing existing employees, but to provide them with a means to succeed in the retail market (Thompson Strickland, 1995). Wal-Mart's popularity can be linked to its hometown identity. Walton believed that every customer should be greeted upon entering a store, and that each store should be a reflection of the values of its customers and its community. Wal-Mart is involved in many community outreach programs and has launched several national efforts through industrial development grants. What are the Key Features of Wal-Mart's Approach to Implementing the Strategy Put Together by Sam Walton -- The key features of Wal-Mart's approach to implementing the strategy put together by Sam Walton emphasizes building solid working relationships with both suppliers and employees, being aware and taking notice of the most intricate details in store layouts and merchandising techniques, capitalizing on every cost saving opportunity, and creating a high performance spirit. This strategic formula is used to provide customers access to quality goods, to make these goods available when and where customers want them, to develop a cost structure that enables competitive pricing, and to build and maintain a reputation for absolute trustworthiness (Stalk, Evan, Shulman, 1992). Wal-Mart stores operate according to their "Everyday Low Price" philosophy. Wal-Mart has emerged

buy custom Homeland Security essay

buy custom Homeland Security essay The primary purpose of this paper is to look at communication and organization challenges facing homeland security. First, the essay will outline the context of the problem or challenge, including the history and any policy decisions that have contributed to the situation. Secondly, it will highlight the importance of the problem, and then identify who is impacted internally and externally. Lastly, an explanation why the problem has not already been solved will be provided (Nakaya, 2005). Homeland security was conceived in 2003 after the 9/11 terrorist attacks that hit the United States. The main purpose of the organization was to protect the citizens of America form terrorism through responding to natural disasters and securing its borders. As such, the organization has grown to be one of the largest U. S. government arm. The organization is large in size since its operations range from national disaster response to airport security and border monitoring. As such, the organization needs qualified personnel and good communication channels in order to meet its prime objectives. Basically, homeland security faces the challenge of lack of communication and organization. In 2006, there was Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana and the organization was responsible for the disaster handling. In this case, the organization was criticized, because they lacked the right personnel to handle such disasters and had poor management effectiveness. The destruction that resulted from the Hurricane Katrina was attributed to communication failure. The lack of proper communication caused destruction in Louisiana and a huge loss of lives. The responding personnel failed to coordinate search and rescue operations effectively due to a poor communication. There was also lack of immediate assistance and supplies from other states. The organization also had not enough state-of-the art communication equipment. With advancement in technologies there has been an increase in depedence and expectations on communication. Organizations should implement complex processes that seek to enhance efficiency of communication network. Nowadays, organizations rely on websites, social sites, and emails to improve communication, and such technological tools are regarded as an organizational way of life. Lack of communication affects all American citizens and government since they feel insecure and frustrated. In the Department of Homeland Security, lack of proper communication affects the reaction time, control and command, as well as efficiency of organizations for the period of a significant event. The government of the United States works tirelessly in order to overcome the challenge of lack of communication and organization. The effort is shown with a legislation of Communication Act in 2002. The legislation facilitates the establishment of a temporary radio station that is owned and run by the federal agency during significant disaster. The Act also empowers NCS to take on an emergency response, reinstallation, and revitalization of telecommunication infrastructure. Communication outages have been prevalent due to lack of equipment and incompatibility of the equipments (Smith Messina, 2004). The problem of lack of communication and organization should be addressed, because it is the prime avenue that ensures efficiency of response and rescue operations. The public is regarded as a credible source of information that aids the organization in conducting its operations. Communication will guide respondents on the exact areas that are facing the significant event. Furthermore, proper communication is essential in efficient functioning of the organization. The organization will ensure that right personnel are available, and that information flows through the right channels. It will also stipulate the right response and command chain, which will facilitate easier transfer of information. The prevalence of poor communication and organization in the Departtment of Homeland Security impacts people and departments, both internally and externally. For instance, the discrepancy is associated with other federal agencies such as CIA and FBI. American citizens feel insecure due to lack of communication and organization in federal agency they trust. As such, they are frustrated, anxious, and feel insecure. The government is also accountable in ensuring security of its citizens through DHS and other federal agencies. As a result, any deficiency in the department will impact negatively on the performance track of the present administration. The challenge can be overcome through structural changes, which will ensure effectiveness of the organization. The organization servers as an umbrella of other agencies and as such, federal agencies that perform different functions should not merge; this will ensure that the organizations perform their obligations effectively. The government of the United States through legislations has tried to counter the deficiencies that are being experienced by federal agencies, especially the Department of Homeland Security. The legislations seek to ensure that communication instruments are compatible, and that in case of a significant event there is an immediate response and recovery of telecommunication infrastructure. In conclusion, it is extremely important for federal agencies to have efficient communication network. The Department of Homeland Security should ensure that the challenge is improved in order to enhance terrorism attacks protection. Credible information in public domain can also be accessed through efficient communication channels. The organization can track the movements and plans of terrorist using intelligence that can be sourced easily from public domain. As such, adoption of technological tools in different aspects of management and communication is crucial in ensuring that the challenge is averted. It is the responsibility of the government and management of the federal agencies to ensure that the problem is prevented. Buy custom Homeland Security essay

A Probation Officers View of Effectiveness Essay

A Probation Officers View of Effectiveness - Essay Example The acceptable thing is that the effectiveness of any correctional effort has to be life-changing so that the positive changes remain tenacious. A Texas Prison Major was quoted, Dilulio, 1987, p 146 that he does believe, like every one, from the director to the warden to the boss in the cellblock, that prisons can be run well and that, the prisons don't have to unsafe, unclean or un-educational. For good programs and good safety go together with good management. In dealing with the intangibles, the perception becomes enormously relative. What is good for one is unacceptable to the other. Why is that There are so many variables at play here that to be able to provide a sustainable argument would be futile. Yet, behavioral science continues to endeavor, in a bid to come up with an acceptable measuring criterion. In this case, measuring the 'effectiveness' of the Probation Officers. The Case Study presented here is a classic study of human action and reaction. It is evident that for an idea to be pushed ahead, a climate of awareness and acceptance has to be created before action can be initiated. Historically action for change is a constant for organizations. It is when the actions boomerang; to expose the ugly side of the initiator [read Probation Officers] that such a report creates havoc. It may be bad enough to bring in the public, the politicians, the social agencies, etc. into the fray. We shall look at three very distinct, pertinent and fact localizing questions that are derived from the Case Study from Criminal Justice Organizations by Stan Stojkovic, David Kalinich, John Klofas, Organizational Effectiveness, Chapter 13, page 345347. Firstly - Whose interests were served in the newspaper's evaluation of this department, and whose will be served by the proposed evaluation A news report of this kind cannot remain contained to a specific issue. In an all Probation Officer 4 engulfing action, it would invade private as well as public domain. It did. From the newspaper's point of view the purpose was wholly served, it informed and instigated action. It prompted the resignation of the Chief. The newspaper may, by this, claim to have started a cleansing process. For the Probation Department, the news report may have kicked up a lot of dirt. The newspaper's evaluation broadcasted the urgency for reforms in the functioning and effectiveness of the Department. It showed the chasm that exists between what is permitted and what was practiced by the Officers and the department as a whole. It played up the under utilization of the work force. More importantly, it brought out that the ultimate goal of providing effective rehabilitation services was not being achieved which was echoed by many social service agencies. The newspaper report though it impaled the department, was good for it, for what should apparently have been an internal inquiry job was done externally by the newspaper and therefore remained objective. The report was not allowed to settle down; the newspaper's serial ensured that it drew the